Trailer caster



E. M. NELSON TRAILER CASTER Filed Nov. 3, 1948 Patented Jan. 15, 1952UNITED" STAT TRAILER oA's'TER- Edwin M. Nelson, Hayward, Wis.Application-November 3, Serial N01 58,103 V This invention relates tocasters, particularly adapted for use upon trailers, and has for one ofits objects the production of a simple and efllcient caster forstabilizing the trailer and facili tating the parking of the trailer. Afurther object of this invention is the pro-. duction of a simple andeflicient caster and journal therefor which may be easily attached to atrailer frame.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear throughoutthe following specification- Figure 5 is a longitudinal fragmentarysectional view of the dual wheel supporting frame, certain parts beingshown in elevation; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form showing asingle wheel supporting frame;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the two-step hitch.-

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that In designates aconventional floor-board upon which may be carried a trunk T and aconventional box B. The floor-board I0 is supported upon the frame IIand secured thereto by suitable U-shaped fasteners I2 which encircle theside rails I3 of the frame II. The side rails I3 converge rearwardlywhere they are engaged by the hanger plate I4, the hanger plate I4having hooked side edges I5 which partly encircle the tubular side railsI3, as shown in Figure 3 to anchor the plate I4 thereto, and to hold therails against lateral spreading. The plate I4 spans the rails I3 and aking pin supporting casing I6 is suspended centrally from the plate I4between the rails I3. The rails I3 are provided with laterally divergingends I1, as shown in Figure 2, to which may be secured a conventionalbumper A shown in dotted lines. The platform III is secured to the railsI3 at spaced intervals by the fasteners I2, the rear fastener preferablyengaging the laterally diverging ends II.

The forward end of each rail I3 carries a twostep hitch I8 which isadapted to be secured to the outside of a towing car bumper I! by meansof a suitable clamp 28, the two-step hitch I8 providing an offset hingeconnection to permit the trailer to be swung upwardly to the dottedposition in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 1, when parking,if desired to conserve space. The side rails I3 are preferably braced bymeans of a transverse spanning brace 2I shown in Figure 2. I

The depending casing I6 carries a bearin assembly 22, one ring 23thereof being fixed in any desired manner to the inner face of thecasing I6 .as shownrin Figure 3. This bearing assembly 22 of aconventional type receives the upper tapering end 24 of the king pin 25.The lower end of the casing I6 is closed by a suitable threaded cap 26through which the king pin extends,

'and is provided with a shoulder 21 which rests A spacing collar 28'upon the closure cap 26; engages the bottom of the cap 26 and rests uponthe pivoted king pin supporting block 29. The king pin 25 is oval incross section, as at 38, Where the pin 25 passes through the block 29.

vThe block 29 is pivotally secured horizontally to the dual wheelsupporting yoke 3I by means of the lateral supporting shafts 32 whichmay be heldin place in any desired manner to hingedly connect the yoke3| to the king pin supporting block 29. A nut 33 holds the block 29 inplace upon the lower end of the king pin 25.

The two-step hitch I8 comprises a shank I8 which fits into the end ofits supporting rail I3 -as shown in Figure 2. This hitch I8 comprises alower clamp engaging step finger I8 and an upper vertically ofl'set stepfinger I8 which extends parallel to the step finger I8". The twostephitch I8 provides an eflicient means for attaching the trailer to atowing vehicle and provides means for shifting the connection with thetowing vehicle from the lower step finger I8 to the upper step fingerI8, and vice versa, depending on the weight of the load on the trailer.This will minimize the danger of load shifting and will facilitate thesupport of the trailer in as near a true horizontal plane as may berequired.

The yoke 3| comprises a pair of forwardly extending relativelyshort'parallel arms 34 which are provided with upturned ends 35 forengaging the stabilizing springs 36. The yoke 3| is also provided withrearwardly extending relatively long parallel downwardly turned wheelsupporting arms 31 for engaging the dual wheels 38 01 a wheel assembly.I

A bearing ring assembly 39 is fixed to the exterior of the casing I6 byhaving the inner hear-- ing ring 40 anchored in any desired mannerarranger-ma v ,7 j pefiaed'rrom saidfpla'tefafking" pinicurnaned' in Theoperation of the invention is as follows:

As the caster wheels 38 of the trailer pass over rough ground, thestabilizing springs 36 will constitute shock absorbers and will take upa major part of the shock or unstabilized motion of the trailer whichotherwise might result when passing over rough terrain. The springs 36will yield andtendgto provide smooth-travebfor the vehicle because ofthe step hitches l8 and connection thereof with the towing vehicle bymeans of, the clamps 23. This is particularly advantageous" Whenparkingmamas iestricted asto size, andfwhien it is necessaryto"conserve spac Itshould be understood that a "very simplearid eliic'ient structure hasbeenpi'ovided comprising a minimum number of parts firmly smred-togetnerin a manner to reduce "rattling to a minimum.

ertne wheel engaging yoke fore!)gaging a"single wheel 32. "Tliis'fyokeZl3'i'p-referably comprises "a iji'alir'ef parallel arms betwee theweariends-jot 'ivhich is journalled" the wheel 52. "'A block 45 similar totheblock lie fis journalled intermediate the ends "of thearms aa andtrierorwar'd ends bi the "arms" are connected. by an intgral connestingu sh'apedfbridge 45 toiwliijchtheffstprings 5% may besecu'red.fThissinglewheelyoke-43 may replace" the'dual yoke 3r wli'en'dtisdesir'd.

v It should be understood that"'eltain" d tail changes "in" mechanicalstructure may be proi/idedvvi-thout departing tram-mean; V the invention"s hinges" tnese ehange f falFwithin the scopeofthe appended claims.

Having described the inventionfwhat isclainied 1. A castewr the classfdescribed" comprising "king 'pinsuppoi tingcasingfsus- 4 said casing, ayoke secured to said king pin and horizontally hinged to said king pinin vertical alignment with the central vertical axis of said king pin toprovide a vertically aligned rockable 5 support for said yoke, said yokehaving a rearwardly extending portion, a supporting wheel carried bysaid rearwardly extending portion, sai'd yoke having a forwardlyex-tending end, a rotatable bearing assemblyaconnec-ted to said 19casing, and yieldable stabilizing means connectfing said forwardlyextending end to said bearing assembly. 7 ZIAcaster of the classdescribed comprising a hafigen-plate, a king pin supporting casing sus-15 pendedfrom saidplate, a king pin journalled in said'iiasing,af-yokesecured to said king pin and horizontally hinged to said king pin invertical alignment with the central vertical axis of said kingpin toprovide a-vertically aligned rockable suppoi't 'for"said yoke, said;yoke having a'rearwardly extending portion, a supporting wheel carried-by' said rearwardly'extending portion, said yoke havingaforwardlyktnding end, a [rotatable bearing assembly connected to -saidcasing, said bearing assembly being'carried exteriorly of said'casing,later-ally spaced eyes carried by said'beai'ing' assembly, and astabilizing spring engaging each eye and also engagiii'gthefiorvv-ardlylextending end'ot 'sai'dg yok e. Y 30 'EDWIN'M. NELSON 7 REFERENCESClTE'l) --The following references-are of record in:- the file of thispatent:

JINITED STATES? PATENTS Davis Nov. 5,}-

